Apostle Innocent fires up Mzimba: Son of ‘Major 1’ recounts great experience

Enlightened Christian Gathering’s (ECG) Mzimba Branch is hastily becoming a household name in the northern region, registering thousands of visitors for its Sunday services; and, resident pastor Apostle Innocent Nyirenda has said “God’s spirit is in the district to fire up Mzimba.”

Apostle Innocent preaching in the Sunday service

Apostle Innocent praying for congregants

Since its establishment around August last year, Mzimba ECG has grown exponentially, with miraculous fame that has made the faithful as far as Rumphi, Mzuzu and Karonga to visit it.

“Our God, the God of ‘Major 1’ is a God like no other. We’re registering great crowds because of just that reason. I share the grace bestowed upon ‘Major 1’ Prophet Shepherd Bushiri. It is the grace of multiplication, not addition. For everything we do it is multiplication not addition,” said Nyirenda in an interview with Nyasa Times.

He said it has been “a great experience” working as a minister of God in Mzimba.

“When ‘Major 1’ assigned me to come here I was a bit hesitant, but God’s grace has done wonders. It was difficult at first but by and by people have begun to realize that they need Jesus Christ in their lives,” he said.

Nyirenda did not rule out hiccups in the establishment of the ministry in the district.

“There have been attacks both physical and spiritual. But in our family we don’t lose battles. In fact, we don’t fight. Our God fights our battles,” he said.

Quoting Jeremiah 29:11 he said, just like in one’s individual life, “if the Branch went by what people thought of it, it could not have been where it is now, for many people thought of its downfall. But we know it has taken God for us to make it this far.”

Each Sunday, the congregation gathers at Mzimba Community Hall for the normal Sunday service. But there are also ‘homecell’ services each Tuesday that are held randomly in the communities around the district.

Once a major event happens at ECG’s headquarters in Pretoria, Mzimba ECG does the same either on the same date or later. For instance, Mzimba ECG also held its Night of Honey which reflected the Year of Honey commissioned by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri at FNB Stadium on December 31 last year.

ECG was founded by Bushiri who, apart from his calling as preacher of the Word, is also president of the Shepherd Bushiri Investments (SBI) .